Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas

Mar.22.2023
Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas
HK government allows alternative smoking product export by air, sea, and land, with a new regulatory framework to prevent local distribution.

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on March 22 that on Friday, March 24, it will publish the draft amendment to the Import and Export (Amendment) Regulation 2023. This amendment will permit the transportation of alternative smoking products (including electronic cigarettes) to overseas markets via air, sea, and land routes that are connected through Hong Kong. The draft amendment will be submitted for legislative council review on Wednesday, March 29.


The Hong Kong government is set to establish a regulatory system that will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, aimed at strengthening the regulation of cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products and reducing the risk of such products entering the local market.


A spokesperson from the Transport and Logistics Bureau stated today (March 22) that "due to the harmful nature of alternative smoking products, the government maintains its stance on prohibiting their entry into the local market. However, we have noticed that the prohibition of intermodal transportation of such products since April 30, 2022 has caused significant losses to Hong Kong's aviation cargo transportation industry. Therefore, we should exempt the intermodal transportation of such products through a new regulatory framework, while ensuring that they do not enter the local market.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has expressed its welcome and support for the proposed regulations aimed at restoring the transportation of alternative smoking products from the Mainland, via Hong Kong International Airport, to overseas markets under a new regulatory system.


Sorry, I cannot complete this task as there is no text to translate. Please provide the text to be translated.


A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council expressed support for the government's efforts to safeguard public health. However, given the importance of transporting alternative smoking products to Hong Kong's logistics and air freight industries, members believe that it is equally important to quickly resume the transportation of these products.


As an AI language model, I am programmed to write in standard journalistic English. Please provide me with the text to translate.


The industry will fully cooperate with the government to implement the new regulatory system, which will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, in order to enhance the regulation of the cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products. The spokesperson added.


The government has consulted the Economic Development Committee of the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, and the trade and logistics industry, and received widespread support for submitting a bill to the Legislative Council.


Reference:


Press Release


On Friday, the draft revision of the 2023 Import and Export Ordinance for Alternative Smoking Products was published in the Official Gazette. This includes amendments related to the transportation of such products.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has endorsed the proposed legislative amendments for the 2023 Import and Export (Amendment) Bill relating to the transit of alternative smoking products.


Further reading:


The Hong Kong government has acknowledged that the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes has resulted in huge losses and will push for amendments to relevant laws in the Legislative Council.


Exclusive Interview with Cloud Pu Jiahang: Hong Kong and Shenzhen may cooperate to establish a pre-clearance facility.


If the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes is lifted, should one choose Hong Kong or Shenzhen?


Hong Kong to resume e-cigarette distribution via sea and air transport only in early 2023.


Special Notice: 1. The content of this article is taken from documents such as "2023 Import and Export (Revised) Regulations" and should be referenced in their original form. 2. This article is intended for industry communication and exploration only and is not meant to promote or recommend any specific brand or product. 3. Smoking is harmful to health. Minors are prohibited from reading this article. 4. This article is an original piece by Shenzhen 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. and its copyright and usage rights belong to the company. No unit or individual is authorized to copy, reprint, or use this article in any other way without permission. Violators will be subject to legal liability and the company reserves the right to pursue such action.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 4.5% in Q3 2026 as 21.6% Growth in Shipments to the UK Offset a Decline in Shipments to the US
China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 4.5% in Q3 2026 as 21.6% Growth in Shipments to the UK Offset a Decline in Shipments to the US
China's vape-related exports rose 4.5% year over year to $2.86 billion in the third quarter of 2026, led by stronger shipments to the United Kingdom as exports to the United States declined. UK-bound shipments increased 21.6%, adding $81.9 million, while US exports fell 5.2%, or $53.6 million. Growth weakened through the quarter, with September exports down 6.3% globally and 37.8% to the US. Nicotine-containing vape products accounted for more than 82% of the quarterly net increase, while device exports were nearly flat. Nine-month exports totaled $7.82 billion, up 4.0%.
DATA
Oct.26
South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter
South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter
South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld fixed taxes on nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids based on solution volume, ruling that challenged provisions imposing KRW 370 per milliliter in individual consumption tax and KRW 628 per milliliter in tobacco consumption tax do not violate the Constitution. The cases stemmed from historical disputes involving importers that reported nicotine as being extracted from tobacco stems rather than leaves. South Korea has since broadened its tobacco definition to include synthetic nicotine, while current tax laws provide reduced rates for certain products not derived from tobacco.
Sep.18
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
Germany's Bundestag passed amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on October 15, 2026, setting out annual excise tax increases from 2027 through 2030 for e-cigarette liquids, heated tobacco, cigarettes and other tobacco products. Under the Finance Committee's amended bill, duty on qualifying e-liquids will rise from €0.32/ml in 2026 to €0.44/ml in 2030, an increase of 37.5%. Heated tobacco will retain its tax calculation based on 80% of the corresponding cigarette excise duty. The average price of a 20-cigarette pack is projected to approach €12 by 2030, with some brands potentially reaching €14. The legislation is projected to generate approximately €11.8 billion in additional tax revenue over four years and remains subject to further legislative procedures.
Regulations
Oct.19
Special report|Indonesia's Vape Industry Has 200 Manufacturers and $1.7 Billion in Investment. Could a Regulatory Divide Derail Its Rise as the World's No. 2 Manufacturing Hub After Shenzhen?
Special report|Indonesia's Vape Industry Has 200 Manufacturers and $1.7 Billion in Investment. Could a Regulatory Divide Derail Its Rise as the World's No. 2 Manufacturing Hub After Shenzhen?
Indonesia's Ministry of Industry said at a November 3, 2026, policy forum that the country has about 200 electronic cigarette companies, Rp31 trillion (approximately $1.71 billion) in cumulative industry investment and around 100,000 jobs across the supply chain. The National Narcotics Agency is seeking a comprehensive ban on vape use and circulation, while the industry ministry favors tighter import, product-standard and distribution controls. Indonesia exported approximately $518 million in vaping products in 2025, and Chinese manufacturers including Smoore, GEEKVAPE and Jinjia Group have established local operations. An international logistics specialist interviewed by 2Firsts said more Chinese vape companies began production in Indonesia from the second half of 2025, accompanied by increased shipments of manufacturing equipment and investment in logistics facilities. The regulatory debate comes as Indonesia expands its role in international vaping manufacturing.
Special Report
Nov.05
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Swedish nicotine pouch brand Kelly White is building its strategy around adult female consumers. Founder and CEO Sophia Wilsby told 2Firsts that women accounted for around 70% of the brand’s repeat customers on HAYPP in Sweden in 2025. The interview explores female consumer segmentation, product and design differentiation, gender stereotypes, packaging regulation, and how independent brands can compete with global players such as ZYN and VELO while considering funding, partnerships and future ownership options.
Business
Sep.24
PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
Philip Morris International's IQOS has extended its partnership with electronic-music event brand ZAMNA to Spain, setting up a House of IQOS at ZAMNA Madrid. Vogue España and Time Out Madrid subsequently published branded content clearly labeled as collaborations with IQOS. PMI has also expanded its company-owned IQOS boutique network in Spain to seven cities this year. The company says IQOS's adjusted heated-tobacco market share in Europe reached 12.6% in the first quarter of 2026, with Spain among its stronger-performing European markets.
Sep.20